Category Archives: Light Year

Poems from the series “Light Year”

Tie in My Pocket

I’ve been a fellow at the Adirondack Center for Writing’s Anne LaBastille Writing Residency down in the mountains for the last two weeks. Here is one poem to come out of that excellent and intensive program. Tie in My Pocket … Continue reading

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“Whole mind gone heron”

We all have one special thing that is the real sign of spring for us. It might be the first trillium, the first lilac. For me, it’s the first heron. Here’s a new poem from a moment long ago when … Continue reading

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Your life as explained by Ouspensky

My friend Allen Hoey was fascinated with the esoteric multiverse philosophies of Gurdjieff and his follower, the mathmetician Ouspensky. Here’s a primer, as best I understand. Your life as explained by Ouspensky Every choice in life splits you in two– the … Continue reading

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September Light

In her monthly astronomy chat this week, Aileen O’Donoghue put a number to how much less light we have each day as September drags us off beyond the end of summer. That brought on another outburst in my ongoing poetry … Continue reading

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July Light

Another “Light Year” poem. July Light Today the light is no light, just a glow that comes from everywhere and nowhere—not quite fog, but shadowless, diffused through the muggy air, and this vague unease that presages thunderstorm. But other days … Continue reading

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May Light

Another poem in the series “Light Year,” examining the qualities of light in each month of the year. May light There are only two seasons in the North Country winter and not-winter. April was cruel as usual, arbitrary, fickle, indecisive—unable … Continue reading

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November Light

Two years ago I had this idea that each month of the year shone with its own unique quality of light, and that I should write a twelve-poem cycle that would capture those qualities. Until yesterday, I had managed to … Continue reading

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Missing August Light

Two years ago I had this idea that each month of the year shone with its own unique quality of light, and that I should write a twelve-poem cycle that would capture those qualities. As it is with many summer … Continue reading

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New poem: I see the snow has fallen

Finally, a poem fresh from the oven. February Light I see the snow has fallen overnight, pure and shining as the New Jerusalem set down outside my kitchen window. Cupping a white mug of black coffee, I peer into woods … Continue reading

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Bells and Cannon

I had begun to write this poem in April 2012 when I cannibalized the topic for a Listening Post essay. I later came back to it, the subject not leaving me alone until I did. Bells and Cannon The first … Continue reading

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